FDA Investigation Finds Heavy Metals in Tampons Pose Few Serious Risks for Women

Further laboratory investigations are being undertaken by federal regulators to complete a full risk assessment of the menstrual products.

Following the recent discovery that many widely used tampon products are contaminated with heavy metals, federal health officials indicate that a review of relevant literature shows that the menstrual products remain a safe option for women, although investigations continue to examine whether the metals in tampons may enter the bloodstream.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the results of its tampon biocompatibility and toxicology research program on December 23, indicating that the agency had completed a preliminary review of literature associated with recent reports that commercially-available tampons can contain heavy metals.

Among the metals that have been found in tampons this past year are lead, arsenic, cadmium and other known human carcinogens.

These findings raised serious concerns about the risks that tampons may pose if the toxic elements can be absorbed through women’s vaginal tissues and into their bloodstreams, which could result in a host of potential side effects, including cancer, weakened immune systems, skin irritation, infertility and hormonal disruptions, as well as developmental problems, birth defects and developmental delays in fetuses.

According to the FDA’s preliminary report (PDF), the agency does not believe there are any significant risks associated with tampons at this point. However, federal regulators must still conduct further laboratory testing to make a final determination about any current dangers that may be associated with the menstrual products.

The FDA’s literature review examined nine articles, which evaluate a number of different contaminants that could be present in tampons, including:

• Metals
• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Bisphenols
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Dioxins
• Triclocarbon

Although the agency found that many of these contaminants were present in tampons, it does not believe the tampons investigated pose any safety concerns, and they are all still safe to use. However, the FDA admits that none of the studies addressed whether tampons released the chemicals into the body or bloodstream, which could pose a potential health risk.

For this reason, federal regulators intend to complete a laboratory risk assessment regarding whether there is any danger posed to women by commercially-available tampons.

The FDA is also reminding individuals that before any tampon can go to market, it must be cleared and evaluated by federal regulators as described in the FDA’s Menstrual Tampons and Pads: Information for Premarket Notification Submissions document.

The safety of tampons came into question when a study was published in August 2024, revealing that researchers found elevated levels of 16 toxic metals in tampons sold throughout the U.S.

The FDA launched an investigation into the health risks from heavy metals in tampons on September 10, to help determine how prevalent the metals are and what kinds of adverse health effects, if any, the presence of these toxic chemicals present for women.